​Over the years I’ve had a variety of hairstyles. As a kid I’d probably mostly be remembered for my short hair.

It took about 5 years and a few short looks, awkward growing phases until I’ve reached a “past the shoulder” length. I’m quite pleased with it, however, I’m craving something different.Maybe you can tell, but I’ve left something out from my hair evolution. I’ve never colored my hair, not even pharmacy boxed color, school spirit day color spray. My hair is a color virgin.

For the past few months I’ve watched interviews of my acting role models when I have down time. I really enjoy the Variety’s Actors on Actors and The Hollywood Reporter’s Roundtable Discussions, (THR). I find them on YouTube and watch as many as I can.

I wish I wrote this article when I first discovered these videos—I viewed so many the first week I won’t even bother with a wild estimate. I felt such a rush while watching them. Some of my favorite actors, like Tom Hanks, Keira Knightley, Emma Stone, Nicole Kidman, and Viola Davis (just to name a few) asked each other questions and shared their experiences as actors. (Variety’s Actors on Actors) Then, there was the thrill of the Round Table Discussions with several of my favorites—casually expressing their feelings and history, (Kate Winslet, Cate Blanchett, Jennifer Lawrence, Amy Adams, Denzel Washington, and many more).

I was excited by the interesting pairings. I learned many had a shared director, co-star, or worked on a film together years ago. I was completely enthralled. It’s entertaining and insightful for me as a member of the audience but also as a person interested in exploring the human condition as an actor.

Forget about the mature adult relationships you may have had for just a moment. You know the ones: The perfectly planned out Valentine’s Day gifts—with greeting cards and expensive chocolates, perhaps even a tiny box of jewelry that was meticulously gift wrapped. You know those relationships where you talk about feelings and futures, make promises, commitments, investments and share responsibilities; before there were foot and backrubs, dinners to be made, date nights, in-laws, kids and noticeable idiosyncrasies.

Go back as far as you can and remember a simple time when you were younger. Maybe it was a first crush or puppy love. Perhaps it was a young love or first kiss that sent shockwaves through your entire body. ​In third grade, a boy named *Doug moved to our school. He was a fraternal twin. Doug was a sweet, soft spoken, but silently strong type of boy. I could tell he’d been through a lot, as I was also quiet and observant, inquisitive and insightful at a young age.*{I’ve changed the names of the people in this reflection of my first love /puppy love, sheer bliss, or whatever you want to call it; of simple times and of pure feeling of thoughtfulness and friendship.}

Dear Diary, Today, Doug smiled at me and said ‘good job’ when we played capture the flag in gym.

Over the course of this last year I think it’s safe to say that things were difficult for me: from my mom’s brain surgery and continued recovery, my lack of funds, and even lack of transportation.

It really wasn’t all that bad—(I can say now).

I got a job and a car (which means I also have a little extra pocket money…but I will always welcome more)!

But not everything was easy-peasy for these improvements.

For instance, at work I occasionally make a mistake. (I’m new and human). But honestly I’m not used to that situation. I don’t want brag falsely but the circumstances that I dealt with recently (pre-job) didn’t allow or require me to mess up. In fact when it comes to my mom’s recovery and my responsibilities I didn’t mess up. I was a machine—a real-life computer or super brain (which my family and I often joked about my mom’s brain surgery and me behaving like a super brain).

Jokes aside, I was her brain and I held and sorted so much information. It was impressive and weird as to what I retained and my quick ability to call upon dates, names, and other facts so immediately in regards to her surgery and recovery, and of course perform all the duties like complete paperwork and calls. (Folks I wasn’t just giving her tea and plumping pillows—I wish that’s what I did. I wrote letters, emails, filled out medical applications, financial assistance applications, insurance papers, charity request applications, spoke with doctors’ offices and insurance companies on pretty much a daily basis for 9 months - thankfully things have slowed down.

The cold weather is upon us which could mean your idea of date night might be Netflix and fuzzy blankets. Well that’s all fine but there are other options out there too.

1. Bowling—when was the last time you put on those slick shoes and bowled your best? Could have been middle school or the occasional college outing. This is a super fun way to engage in a fun and cheap activity with your S.O.​

A few weeks ago I cleaned my desk and I came across something I hadn’t seen or thought about in years. Immediately I remembered the impact it had on me.

I wish I wrote the date on it...didn’t think to then, but it was obviously around a new year that I created my list of “resolutions” or, better defined, my mantras.

The rainbow stream of fonts in all different sizes illustrate my intention to make each point stand out.

I used direct lines from lyrics...Hannah Montana lyrics to be honest...I’m guessing I wrote this inspirational page around 2007. I definitely remember having this hung up in my bedroom during high school. I would walk the school halls and classrooms and repeat my favorite lines to myself--one being, “I own the room, in a good way.”​

​It’s go time everyone. We are finally in one of the best and most festive times of year.

I absolutely love this time of year. I have a huge extended family (5 sets of aunts and uncles, each with 2-6 kids and now those kids having their own kids… you get the picture) and we would always, ALWAYS gather for thanksgiving and Christmas at my grandparents’ house. It was complete chaos and it was amazing. As all of the grandchildren and great grandchildren have started to grow up, there have been less and less around the table each year, myself included. This was mostly due to family moving away and needing to split time with significant others. I was lucky enough to be able to go home for Thanksgiving and Christmas during college in Rochester due to the hefty amounts of time given in between quarters and the proximity to my parents’ home (about a 4 hour drive which was incredibly manageable).

I’m getting into the Halloween spirit. I enjoyed the holiday as a kid but it wasn’t my absolute favorite; (I’m a foodie so like all the major Food Holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter). “But, Holly,” you say, “you get to dress up and get free candy! There’s nothing better than that! And Spooky and scary movies, who doesn’t love that?”

I can answer that for you, I don’t!

But I do enjoy the dress up bit. I would alternate between dressing up as a witch or a black cat. Actually, one year I dressed up as Holly, the Christmas Elf. It was inspired by the movie ELF and my name is Holly, so it was a no brainer. But I wrote my name on my costume and a neighborhood dad was with his kids and said, “Hi Holly.” I was like, “Dude, how do you know my name?” He looked at me and said, “It’s on your shirt.” I was confused, embarrassed and probably 13.